stock
C1Neutral to formal in finance/business; neutral to informal in cooking/agriculture.
Definition
Meaning
A supply of goods or materials kept on hand for sale or use; a share in the ownership of a company.
The original type from which others are made or derived; the broth or liquid produced by simmering bones, vegetables, etc., used as a base for soups and sauces; the animals or plants belonging to a particular breed or variety; the handle or support of a rifle or similar weapon; a person's ancestry or lineage.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly polysemous. The financial and 'supply' meanings are dominant in business contexts. 'Stock' as broth is culinary. 'Stock' as lineage/ancestry is formal/biological. Context is crucial for disambiguation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use all core meanings. In finance, 'shares' is slightly more common in UK English for equity ownership, but 'stock' is perfectly understood.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. 'Stock' can imply something standard, basic, or always available (e.g., stock photo, stock answer).
Frequency
The word is high-frequency in both varieties due to its wide range of applications in business, cooking, and general discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to stock (something) with (something)to be stocked with (something)to stock up on (something)to take stock of (something)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take stock (of)”
- “laughing stock”
- “stock in trade”
- “lock, stock and barrel”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to inventory of products or shares of a company. 'We need to manage our stock levels more efficiently.'
Academic
Used in biology for a population or lineage, or in economics/finance. 'The study tracked the genetic stock of the species.'
Everyday
Commonly refers to soup base or general supply. 'I'm making vegetable stock for the soup.'
Technical
In finance: equity instruments. In broadcasting: archived footage. In rail: vehicles. 'The engineer checked the rolling stock.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The shop has a good stock of winter coats.
- She invested in technology stocks.
- Add the stock to the pan and simmer.
- He comes from sturdy farming stock.
American English
- We need to check our parts stock.
- His portfolio is heavy on blue-chip stocks.
- This recipe calls for two cups of chicken stock.
- The horse is of excellent stock.
verb
British English
- We need to stock the shelves before opening.
- The pond is stocked with carp.
- I must stock up on tea.
American English
- Does this store stock organic cereals?
- The lake was stocked with trout last year.
- We should stock up on bottled water for the storm.
adjective
British English
- It was a stock response to a difficult question.
- The car came with stock alloy wheels.
- He used a stock image for the presentation.
American English
- She gave the stock answer about company policy.
- The vehicle's stock tires weren't suited for winter.
- The article was accompanied by a stock photo.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The supermarket has milk in stock.
- I need vegetable stock for my soup.
- The company's stock price rose by 5% today.
- We are running low on stock for that popular item.
- He comes from a family of musical stock.
- Investors are wary of the volatile stock market.
- Before making a decision, it's wise to take stock of the situation.
- The chef prepared a rich bone stock for the consommé.
- The retailer's just-in-time inventory system minimizes holding costs for stock.
- Her dissertation examined the genetic stock of isolated populations.
- The policy was a stock element of the party's manifesto.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a shopkeeper taking STOCK of his STOCK – counting the items on his shelves (inventory) and checking the value of his company shares (financial). Both are his 'stock.'
Conceptual Metaphor
RESOURCE IS A LIQUID/SUPPLY (e.g., 'pool of talent', 'stock of knowledge'), MONEY/OWNERSHIP IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT ('stock' as a share).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'сток' (drainage). The financial 'stock' is 'акция'. The inventory 'stock' is 'запас' or 'товарный запас'. 'Бульон' is the culinary 'stock'. Ancestry 'stock' is 'происхождение'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'stock' as a countable noun for a single item ('a stock' usually means a type/supply, not one unit). Confusing 'stock' (inventory) with 'stocks' (historical punishment device). Using 'stock' to mean 'shop' (false friend from some languages).
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'stock' NOT typically refer to a supply or reserve?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In business, they are often synonyms for goods held for sale. However, 'inventory' is a more formal accounting term encompassing all items, while 'stock' can feel more commercial. 'Stock' is also used for financial shares, which 'inventory' is not.
Very similar, and often used interchangeably. Purists argue 'stock' is made from bones and simmered longer, being unseasoned and used as a base, while 'broth' is made from meat and/or vegetables, can be seasoned, and is often served as a dish itself. In everyday use, the distinction is blurred.
Yes. It means to supply or fill with goods ('stock the freezer'), to keep a supply of for sale ('the shop stocks local cheese'), or to place fish in a body of water ('stock the lake with trout').
It is an idiom meaning to carefully think about a situation in order to make a decision. It originates from literally counting inventory (stock) in a business. Example: 'At the end of the year, I take stock of my personal goals.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Business Vocabulary
B1 · 50 words · Fundamental language of commerce and trade.
Economics Terms
B2 · 50 words · Key vocabulary for economics and financial systems.